Progressive resistance exercise for cervical dystonia and brain changes
Official title: Progressive resistance exercise and dystonia pathophysiology.
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11397516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will test whether adding progressive resistance exercise to standard care helps people with focal cervical dystonia and explores how the brain adapts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $506,790 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS122943-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with focal cervical dystonia who are already receiving standard treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without focal cervical dystonia or who cannot participate in the exercise program may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have focal cervical dystonia, this study will compare usual care to usual care plus a structured progressive resistance training program. Researchers will use brain scans and stimulation tests to understand how the exercise affects brain pathways involved in movement. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the exercise plus standard care or standard care alone and will undergo training sessions as part of the trial. The goal is to see if the exercise can produce clearer improvements in symptoms and better brain function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to better symptom control and inform new rehabilitation options for dystonia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggested muscle-training approaches can help, but results varied and mechanisms are not fully understood.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wagle Shukla, Aparna — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Wagle Shukla, Aparna
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.